Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Alabama-Huntsville (33-22) made it a repeat performance Friday night at Sam Bailey Field, as the Chargers defeated the No. 7 Statesmen (41-13) of Delta State University 6-5 in the winner's bracket of the NCAA South Region Tournament.  UAH downed DSU 8-4 in the same game at the Gulf South Conference Tournament, an event the Statesmen came back to win one week ago at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Ga. 

The Statesmen struck the Chargers for a run in the top of the first inning, as Ben Kingsley's sac-fly RBI scored Jordan Chovanec to put the Green-and-White up 1-0.  Chovanec and Sam Kidd led off the frame with back-to-back base hits. 

UAH came back in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead on the Statesmen.  The Chargers plated their first run on a wild pitch by DSU starter Colton Mitchell allowing Justin Pearson to score from third.  Eric Deese followed with an RBI double to left-center to put UAH ahead. 

DSU clawed back in the top of the fourth to tie at 2-2.  After Jon Carnahan reached on an error by Deese, Michael Vinson singled through the right side to put Carnahn on third.  Brent Langston would tie it up on an RBI ground out to second baseman Jon McKinney. 

In the bottom of the fourth, UAH reclaimed the lead 3-2 on the second wild pitch of the game by Mitchell.  Vincent Kortbowai led off the frame with a double down the right field line.  A second sac bunt by Love moved Kortbawi over, putting the Charger first baseman in scoring position and eventually coming in on the curve in the dirt that bounced to the backstop. 

DSU tied it up at 3-3 in the top of the sixth, as Carnahan came around to score after an error by UAH's Pearson in left.  Carnhan opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch.  Aldridge singled to left and while Pearson attempted to field the ball, the UAH leftfielder rolled his ankle allowing Carnahan to score from third. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Justin Riddle reached on a walk to open the inning and moved to second on a single by Kortbawi.  After a sac bunt by Mike Love to move the runners up, Riddle came in to score on a sac-fly by Blake Massey to make it 4-3 UAH. 

The Chargers tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh, runs that made the difference in the game, on Riddle's two-RBI single to right-center.  UAH jumpstarted the inning with back-to-back walks by Mitchell, forcing the All-Region left-hander from the game.  Rickey Winters came on in relief and gave up the hit to Riddle.  Winters struck out Love end the threat.

DSU made a game of it in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs with two outs.  Sam Kidd reached on a fielder's choice to get the rally started.  After stealing second, Kidd came in to score on an RBI single by Kingsley.  Kingsley also swiped second and came in on Carnhan's RBI double down the right field line. 

UAH's Cody Barrett (10) nailed down the win by coaxing a ground out to second by Michael Vinson to end the threat. 

David Kendrick (7-2) earned the win, while Mitchell (8-1) was saddled with his first loss of the year.  Barrett earned the save after working 1.1 innings of relief. 

UAH advances to face Stillman College in the winner's bracket final, while the loss drops the Statesmen into the loser's bracket to face the University of West Florida in an elimination game on Saturday at 4:15 p.m.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting 15 minutes prior with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.  Matt Jones will have the call.